EP3456586B1 - Device and method for precisely and at least partially fixing vehicle lights on vehicles, especially motor vehicles and vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a vehicle light equipped therewith according to the preamble of claim 9.

In particular, the invention is concerned with improving the adjustment and fastening of vehicle lights on vehicles, above all in installation openings provided for this purpose in their bodies or body parts.

With increasing production precision in automotive engineering, the demands on the fitting accuracy of vehicle parts are increasing. The main focus is on the external appearance of vehicles that is immediately recognizable by the end customer, often reflected by the so-called gap size, which stands for dimensional accuracy, distance and position, for example with regard to a twisted position, of two or more recognizable different, adjacent vehicle parts. A gap dimension that is as uniform and/or as small as possible must be maintained in order to meet the quality requirements on the one hand with regard to the appearance and on the other hand with regard to a vehicle surface or contour that is as streamlined as possible and appears “from a single source”.

This is particularly evident in vehicle lights in general and vehicle rear lights in particular, which, depending on the vehicle model, have to be inserted into the surface of a body or one or more body parts, either seamlessly or with a gap that is as precise and even as possible.

A vehicle light essentially comprises a light interior that is completely or partially enclosed by a light housing and a lens and at least one illuminant for at least one lighting function of the vehicle light that is completely or partially housed therein and includes at least one light source.

Depending on the design, each vehicle light fulfills one or more tasks or functions. A light function of the vehicle light is provided to fulfill each task or function. Light functions are, for example, a function that illuminates the roadway when configured as a headlight, or a signal function when configured as a signal light, such as a repeating flashing light function to indicate the direction of travel or a brake light function to indicate braking activity, or e.g. a parking light function, such as a rear light function, to ensure a Day and/or night visibility of the vehicle, such as when configured as a rear light or daytime running light.

Examples of vehicle lights are turn signals arranged on the front of the vehicle, on the sides of the vehicle and/or on the side mirrors and on the rear of the vehicle, exit lights, for example for ambient lighting, side lights, brake lights, fog lights, reversing lights, and typically high-mounted third brake lights, so-called central, high-mounted Braking lights, daytime running lights, headlights and fog lights used as cornering lights, and combinations thereof.

The fastening of a vehicle lamp to the vehicle is usually between its lamp housing and at least one recess for the vehicle lamp, for example in the bodywork, which is referred to below as an installation opening regardless of its design, for example a receiving recess in the form of a depression or a receiving opening in the form of a cutout or hole or provided in one or more body parts delimiting body wall.

It is fastened, for example, by means of one or more fastening devices, each with at least one first fastening element provided on the light side and at least one second fastening element provided on the bodywork or vehicle side in the installation opening and corresponding to the at least one first fastening element.

For example, is through DE 103 48 228 A1 known to attach vehicle taillights with threaded bolts and nuts in the installation opening of the body of the vehicle. Corresponding precautions are taken on the light side and on the vehicle side with the threaded bolts and nuts, such as for example openings, undercuts, etc., which together with the threaded bolts and nuts form first and second fastening elements.

In order to form a constantly wide gap over the circumference within tolerance specifications between the edge of the vehicle light and the edge of the installation opening, the installation of the vehicle light is difficult. The same applies to the assembly of vehicle lights to be inserted flush into the body or the body parts, for example within tolerance specifications, at least partly without a gap and/or seamlessly, partly with a gap that is to be maintained as precisely and evenly as possible.

Adherence to the tolerance specifications is influenced by permissible surface deviations within a total tolerance of a vehicle light from the line tear or the envelope surface of the vehicle light and permissible outline deviations from the line tear or the envelope surface of the vehicle light. The overall tolerance of a vehicle light results from the tolerances of the individual components, such as the injection molded components used, and from the tolerances of the manufacturing processes, such as welding processes used to connect two or more individual components of a vehicle light.

An entire chain of tolerances from manufacture to installation of a vehicle light in an installation opening thus includes, in addition to the influencing factors specified for the overall tolerance, the permissible tolerance with regard to the position and orientation when installing the vehicle light in the installation opening.

In the following, this problem is therefore summarized as "fulfillment of tolerance specifications", regardless of whether it is a matter of maintaining the dimensions of the vehicle light in its manufacturing process or maintaining a gap dimension during its assembly, or if this is at least partly a gap-free, seamless transition, for example, from the lens of a vehicle lamp to an adjacent body part or a body surface or another component or other surface of a vehicle.

State of the art are processing stations in which fastening elements are mechanically reworked, for example on the back of the lamp housing of the vehicle lamp, in order to be able to meet tolerance specifications.

Drilling/milling processing stations are also known, in which the receiving points for fastening elements are set or stop elements are reworked.

The disadvantage of such mechanical processing is that the resulting chips can get into the interior of the lamp as contaminants.

Furthermore, such a mechanical processing has the disadvantage of a risk of damage to the lens of the vehicle lamp lying with the lens down during such mechanical processing.

This mechanical processing is also not suitable for being able to reliably meet the tolerance specifications, which will become ever tighter in the future.

To fix this disadvantage is also through DE 103 48 228 A1 known that the light-side first fastener is divided into two. The first fastening element provided on the lamp side consists of a first holding element fastened directly to the vehicle lamp at a mounting point provided for this purpose on the lamp housing and a second holding element fastened to the first holding element. For later installation in the installation opening, the second holding element corresponds to the second fastening element on the body or vehicle. The first holding element has a recess for the second holding element. The recess is made larger than is required for the second holding element. The second holding element protrudes into the recess. In order to obtain an alignment that is as precise as possible in the installation opening, the vehicle lamp is initially produced without a first fastening element provided on the lamp side. The vehicle light is then placed in a receptacle in the correct position in accordance with its arrangement in an installation opening. The first holding element is fastened to the mounting point provided for this purpose on the lamp housing of the vehicle lamp. The second holding element is introduced into the recess of the first holding element and aligned in relation to the precise position of the vehicle lamp in the receptacle. An adhesive is then introduced into the remaining space of the recess, which hardens while maintaining the alignment of the second holding element. The vehicle lamp is then removed from the receptacle with the completely finished first fastening element.

Through DE 10 2008 030 031 it is known that the adhesive can be heated by induction and thus activated.

Through DE 101 04 906 A1 it is known that the first fastening element is adjustable relative to the lamp housing. The first fastening element must be aligned in the installation opening when the vehicle light is installed.

To simplify the assembly of vehicle lights with multi-part, adjustable first fasteners is through DE 42 42 439 C1 It is known that the first fastening element has a holding part which sits on a threaded part of a carrier and with which the carrier can be braced against a support which has at least one receiving opening through which the threaded part protrudes. The holding part is already secured before assembly on the threaded part with a securing and clamping part, which clamps the holding part against the support during assembly in conjunction with the threaded part.

Through DE 199 26 842 A1 discloses a vehicle lamp designed in particular as a vehicle rear lamp with an adjustable attachment for fixing in an installation opening of a body or a body part of a vehicle. The vehicle lamp is attached to the body or the body part by means of a threaded bolt and an adjusting nut in the installation opening. The adjusting nut is arranged on the threaded bolt between the lamp housing and the body part or the body. The fastening nut is arranged on the threaded bolt on the side of the body part or the body that faces away from the vehicle light.

So that, on the one hand, a constantly wide gap is formed between the edge of the lens and a wall surrounding the installation opening, and so that, on the other hand, the surface formed by the lens continues flush with a surface of the body surrounding the installation opening and/or flush with a contour predetermined by the edge of the installation opening follows, the assembly of the vehicle lamp is difficult.

Through EP 2 133 235 A2 It is known to fix a threaded bolt in a recess provided for this purpose on a lamp housing of a vehicle lamp by means of an adhesive, the vehicle lamp in a teaching is held, which specifies the location and position of the threaded bolt. The adhesive can be activated and hardened quickly by means of induction, so that the threaded bolt is fixed in the location and position specified by the gauge.

Subsequent adjustment by changing the axial position of the threaded bolt is no longer possible.

In order to enable such a subsequent adjustment, it is known to design the threaded bolt as a hollow screw with an internal and external thread, which is screwed with its internal thread onto a threaded bolt fixed in its position and position on the lamp housing. A clamping part made of plastic, for example nylon, is arranged between the internal thread of the hollow screw and the threaded bolt. For example, like a self-locking nut, the clamping part can be arranged in a ring coaxial to the internal thread on the banjo bolt, or like a corresponding self-locking screw can be arranged in a groove that extends along the longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt and is embedded in the external thread of the threaded bolt.

The disadvantage here is that the clamping part does not fix the banjo bolt in relation to the threaded bolt, which leads to an unintentional displacement of the banjo bolt if, for example, a nut is screwed onto it from the rear of the body with a torque provided for fastening the vehicle light in the installation opening .

Through GB 2 412 704 A a vehicle lamp with a device for at least partially fastening the vehicle lamp in an installation opening of a body of a vehicle is known. The device comprises a hollow screw with an external thread and a central opening which extends coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw. The device also includes a threaded bolt which can be fixed or is fixed to the vehicle lamp and has a first threaded section extending through the central opening, and a sleeve-shaped clamping part arranged coaxially in the central opening on the first threaded section between the hollow screw and the threaded bolt. The banjo bolt has a collar which is arranged on one side of the external thread and protrudes radially from the banjo bolt, which collar faces the device of the vehicle lamp in the installed state. The clamping part is in the central opening around the longitudinal axis of the Hollow screw rotatably arranged. The clamping part is arranged in a form-fitting manner in the axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw. The clamping part has a continuous axial opening which runs coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw and whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the first threaded section of the threaded bolt. The clamping part includes a lug which has a shape which can be brought into engagement with a tool in order to rotate the clamping part relative to the hollow screw.

Through DE 202 13 362 U1 a fastening device is known which has a carrier part with an external thread and a collar. For torque support, a stop fixed on a functional body engages in a stop groove arranged in the collar of the carrier part when the fastening device is in the installed state.

Through EP 2 933 144 B1 a device for at least partially fastening a vehicle lamp in an installation opening of a vehicle body, a vehicle lamp equipped with such a device and a method for arranging and adjusting a corresponding device for at least partially fastening a vehicle lamp in an installation opening of a vehicle body are known. The device comprises a banjo bolt with an external thread and a central opening extending coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the banjo bolt, a threaded bolt that can be fixed or is fixed to the vehicle light and has a first threaded section that extends through the central opening, and a coaxial screw in the central opening on the first threaded section sleeve-shaped clamping part arranged between the hollow screw and the threaded bolt. The banjo bolt has a collar which is arranged on one side of the external thread and protrudes radially from the banjo bolt, which collar faces the device of the vehicle lamp in the installed state. The clamping part is arranged in the central opening so that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw. The clamping part is arranged in a form-fitting manner in the axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw. The clamping part has a continuous axial opening which runs coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw and whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the first threaded section of the threaded bolt. The clamping part includes a lug which has a shape which can be brought into engagement with a tool in order to rotate the clamping part relative to the hollow screw. In the At least one stop groove is arranged in the collar of the banjo bolt. A stop fixed to the vehicle light and corresponding to the at least one stop groove engages in at least one stop groove when the torque support device is in the installed state. The method provides that the threaded bolt is first fixed to the vehicle light, then the hollow screw with the clamping part arranged in its central opening is screwed with the collar first onto the first threaded section of the threaded bolt until the stop fixed on the vehicle light fits into a stop groove on the collar engages, and then the position of the external thread and the collar delimiting it is adjusted in the axial direction to the longitudinal axis of the hollow screw along the threaded bolt, with rotation of the clamping part relative to the first threaded section of the threaded bolt changing the position of the external thread and the collar delimiting it in the axial direction Longitudinal axis of the hollow screw is adjusted along the threaded bolt.

The setting is made before installing the light in the installation opening.

Through DE 10 2005 030 676 A1 , DE 196 50 864 A1 and DE 39 29 086 A1 a device for at least partially attaching a vehicle light to a vehicle is known in each case. Vehicle light and vehicle each form a counterpart to each other. The device comprises an expansion sleeve that can be arranged in a receptacle on one counterpart, a clamping cone accommodated in the expansion sleeve so that it can move along a longitudinal axis while expanding the expansion sleeve, and a fastening means that can be fixed on the other counterpart and, when actuated, acts on a position of the clamping cone along the longitudinal axis to change the distance. In the unexpanded state, the expansion sleeve is accommodated in the receptacle in a floating manner in the direction along the longitudinal axis. In the expanded state, the expansion sleeve is fixed in the receptacle in its then assumed position along the longitudinal axis. By actuation of the fastening means, which reduces the distance and acts on the position of the clamping cone, the expansion sleeve is first brought into contact with the counterpart. The clamping cone then widens the expansion sleeve.

Through DE 10 2004 007 401 A1 , A for at least partially attaching a vehicle lamp to a vehicle is known. It includes a dowel with a longitudinal axis that is arranged in a receiving opening of an assembly support Clamping piece arranged concentrically to its longitudinal axis and displaceable along its longitudinal axis, and a screw screwed into this. When the screw is tightened, it pulls the clamping piece along the longitudinal axis of the dowel into the dowel, as a result of which the dowel expands and is fixed in the receiving opening. A vehicle part, such as a vehicle light, is clamped between the screw head and the plug when the screw is tightened. The dowel widens as intended in the receiving opening.

Through EP 2 168 810 A1 a vehicle lamp is known which is provided with its housing for at least partial attachment to a body part of a vehicle. It comprises a screw arranged in a receiving opening of the housing along a longitudinal axis. The screw head is located in an expansion sleeve that is initially arranged floating in the receiving opening along the longitudinal axis. The screw shank extends through a hole in the body part. If the screw is pulled against the body part, for example by means of a nut, the expansion sleeve comes into contact with the body part and the screw head finally widens the expansion sleeve, whereby the expansion sleeve and screw are fixed in the receiving opening.

Through FR 2 727 479 A1 a fastening element is known which is arranged in a receptacle in a first counterpart to be displaceable along a first displacement axis, and which is displaceably arranged in a receptacle in a second counterpart along a second displacement axis and along a third displacement axis. The displacement axes are perpendicular to each other. By screwing in a fastener in the form of a self-tapping screw, this is moved in a direction parallel to the third displacement axis into the fastener. As a result, the fastening element widens in an upper part in the direction of the first displacement axis and in a lower part it widens in the direction of the second displacement axis as a result.

In summary, the known fastening devices are very assembly and/or time-consuming with regard to improving compliance with a gap dimension and are very expensive due to the use of a large number of interacting components that have to be kept available individually and brought together during assembly.

A general goal in the development of vehicle lights to be mounted in installation openings of vehicle bodies in a series production is the reduction of costs.

The assembly costs represent a not inconsiderable contribution to costs, which should be reduced, for example, through a high degree of prefabrication, a small number of components that have to be handled during assembly, together with a cost-reducing effect of a small amount of time required for assembly.

This can be achieved, for example, by reducing the number of individual actions to be performed during assembly, resulting in fewer incorrect assemblies, which lowers the overall costs, and by Fastening devices that can be pre-assembled on the vehicle and/or lamp side in a captive manner and that allow a vehicle lamp to be fastened to the vehicle in a position-accurate, at least partial manner without readjustment.

One object of the invention is to create a position-accurate attachment of vehicle lights to vehicles.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to develop a device for at least partially fastening vehicle lights to vehicles and a vehicle light equipped with a corresponding device, which ensure compliance with tolerance specifications with simple and inexpensive means.

The object is solved in each case by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are reproduced in the claims, the drawings and in the following description, including those associated with the drawings.

A first subject matter of the invention therefore relates to a device for at least partially fastening a vehicle lamp to a vehicle, in particular to a body wall delimiting an installation opening.

The device comprises an expansion sleeve, a clamping cone accommodated in the expansion sleeve so that it can be moved along a longitudinal axis while the expansion sleeve expands, and a fastening means that acts on a position of the clamping cone along the longitudinal axis to change the distance to it.

The expansion sleeve is in the unexpanded state at least along the longitudinal axis floating on the vehicle lamp - preferably its lamp housing - or on the vehicle - preferably a body wall delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle lamp on the body of the vehicle.

The expansion sleeve is first brought to bear on the counterpart to its floating arrangement along the longitudinal axis by actuating the fastening means to reduce the distance, ie on the vehicle with a floating arrangement on the vehicle lamp and on the vehicle lamp with a floating arrangement on the vehicle.

The expansion sleeve is or is fixed immovably in the expanded state obtained by further distance-reducing actuation of the fastening means in its unexpanded state or previously floating arrangement.

In addition, for its floating arrangement in the unexpanded state along the longitudinal axis in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis, the expansion sleeve is also arranged floating on the vehicle lamp or on the vehicle. In this case, the expansion sleeve expands under the action of the clamping cone when the fastening means is actuated to reduce the distance in the direction of an expansion axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis and normal to the displacement axis.

The fastening means can comprise two mutually interacting fastening elements, for example a threaded bolt and a threaded nut, a smooth bolt and a clamping disk self-locking against being pulled off the smooth bolt, similar to a cable tie, a serrated bolt and a catch acting against being pulled off the serrated bolt.

The clamping cone can include one of the fastening elements, for example a threaded bolt or a threaded nut.

Preferably, the expansion sleeve has a corrugation on the outside, which inhibits the floating bearing when it is expanded and finally eliminates it.

Alternatively or additionally, a corrugation can be provided between the expansion sleeve and the clamping cone, which ribbing fixes the clamping cone in the expansion sleeve as soon as it expands the expansion sleeve.

The clamping cone is particularly preferably arranged captively in the expansion sleeve. This can be limited by means of an inner locking section conical portion of a cooperating with the clamping cone inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve can be made, which inner latching section protrudes so far into a receiving opening surrounded by the conical part that a clamping cone accommodated therein cannot pass through the latching section under its own power.

Accordingly, the device comprises, for example, a bolt extending along a longitudinal axis, for example a threaded bolt, and a fastening element, for example a nut, which interacts with the bolt.

Conceivable combinations of bolts and fastening means interacting with them are, for example, threaded bolts and threaded nuts, smooth bolts and clamping disks self-locking against withdrawal from the smooth bolt, serrated bolt and notch acting against withdrawal from the serrated bolt, similar to a cable tie.

The device also includes a clamping cone arranged to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

In addition, the device comprises, for example, a hollow-cylindrical expansion sleeve with a first end of the expansion sleeve, preferably referred to as the closed end, having a conical portion of its inner lateral surface delimited by a base, for example with a central opening for passing through the bolt that may be provided. The part of the cone section of the inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve correlates with the outer shape of the clamping cone in such a way that it can be accommodated free of a deformation of the expansion sleeve at least in the widest section of the part in the form of a cone section.

Opposite the closed or first end, the expansion sleeve has a second end, referred to as the open end for short. Both the hollow-cylindrical axis of the hollow-cylindrical expansion sleeve and the solder of the part in the shape of a cone section extend from the first end to the opposite, second end of the expansion sleeve along the longitudinal axis of the bolt. The longitudinal axis is normal to a surface spanned by an edge of the central opening in the floor. The part of the inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve in the form of a cone section comprises at least one section, which is referred to as the inner diameter for short Inner dimension tapers in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis from the open end of the expansion sleeve towards the closed end.

Towards the open end, the part in the shape of a cone section is preferably delimited by an inner latching section, in which the distance between the inner lateral surface and the longitudinal axis is smaller in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis than on the side in the part in the form of a cone section that faces the open end.

The inner latching section allows a captive mounting of the clamping cone in the expansion sleeve, floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

The outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve preferably has a central lateral surface section in the form of a straight, general cylinder whose cylinder axis extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. Viewed in both directions along the longitudinal axis, the outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve has on both sides of the central lateral surface section an outer latching section acting towards the central lateral surface section. In the outer latching sections, the distance between the outer lateral surface and the longitudinal axis is greater in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis than in the middle lateral surface section.

The two outer latching sections allow the expansion sleeve to be mounted in a captive manner, floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis, in an opening of a vehicle lamp whose cross-sectional dimensions correspond to the cross-sectional dimensions of the central lateral surface section normal to the longitudinal axis, or in a correspondingly corresponding opening in a body wall delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle lamp.

The clamping cone can have a central opening for the passage of a fastening element designed, for example, as a bolt.

Alternatively, the clamping cone can be connected to the bolt and initially arranged in a floating manner together with it along the longitudinal axis of the bolt. In this case, the device forms a unit that is particularly easy to handle in handling, since the clamping cone is arranged captively together with the bolt in the expansion sleeve and the expansion sleeve with the clamping cone accommodated by it captively lights or vehicle side first up to precise position alignment of the vehicle light relative to the vehicle is captively mounted floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

• die Vorrichtung eine Spreizhülse, einen entlang einer Längsachse unter Aufweitung der Spreizhülse beweglich in dieser aufgenommenen Spannkonus, und ein mit dem Spannkonus zusammenwirkendes Befestigungsmittel umfasst,
• die Spreizhülse in unaufgeweitetem Zustand zumindest entlang der Längsachse schwimmend an der Fahrzeugleuchte, vorzugsweise deren Leuchtengehäuse angeordnet ist,
• der Spannkonus unter Aufweitung der Spreizhülse entlang der Längsachse beweglich in der Spreizhülse aufgenommen ist, und zunächst gemeinsam mit dieser entlang der Längsachse schwimmend an der Fahrzeugleuchte - vornehmlich deren Leuchtengehäuse - angeordnet ist,
• das Zusammenwirken des Befestigungsmittels und des Spannkonus je nach Betätigungsrichtung eine Vergrößerung oder eine Verkleinerung des Abstands zwischen dem Befestigungsmittel und dem Spannkonus bewirkt,
• mit zunehmender Verkleinerung des Abstands zwischen Befestigungsmittel und Spannkonus die Spreizhülse zur Anlage am Fahrzeug kommt - vornehmliche einer eine Einbauöffnung für die Fahrzeugleuchte begrenzenden Karosseriewandung - und schließlich nur noch der Spannkonus durch weitere Betätigung des Befestigungsmittels unter Aufweitung des Spreizhülse entlang der Längsachse beweglich ist, so dass schließlich das Befestigungsmittel die Vorrichtung am Fahrzeug unter unbeweglicher Festlegung an der Fahrzeugleuchte durch Aufweitung der Spreizhülse in einer einmal eingenommenen Position entlang der Längsachse festliegt.

A second subject matter of the invention relates to a vehicle light with at least one device arranged on it for its at least partial attachment to a body wall delimiting an installation opening, wherein:

• the device comprises an expansion sleeve, a clamping cone received in the expansion sleeve so that it can move along a longitudinal axis with expansion of the latter, and a fastening means which interacts with the clamping cone,
• the expansion sleeve in the unexpanded state is arranged floating at least along the longitudinal axis on the vehicle light, preferably its light housing,
• the clamping cone is accommodated in the expansion sleeve so that it can move along the longitudinal axis while the expansion sleeve expands, and is initially arranged floating on the vehicle lamp - primarily its lamp housing - together with this along the longitudinal axis,
• the interaction of the fastener and the clamping cone causes an increase or decrease in the distance between the fastener and the clamping cone, depending on the direction of actuation,
• as the distance between the fastening means and the clamping cone decreases, the expansion sleeve comes into contact with the vehicle - primarily a body wall delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle light - and finally only the clamping cone can be moved along the longitudinal axis by further actuation of the fastening means with expansion of the expansion sleeve, so that Finally, the fastening means fixes the device on the vehicle with immovable attachment to the vehicle light by expanding the expansion sleeve in a once assumed position along the longitudinal axis.

In other words, the interaction of fastening means and clamping cone provides that actuation of the fastening means has a variable distance effect on the position of the clamping cone along the longitudinal axis relative to the fastening means or its fastening point on the counterpart of the vehicle light.

In addition to its floating arrangement in the unexpanded state, the expansion sleeve is also arranged floating on the vehicle lamp along the longitudinal axis in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis. The expansion sleeve expands under the action of the clamping cone when the fastening means is actuated to reduce the distance in the direction of an expansion axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis and normal to the displacement axis.

The method for at least partially attaching a vehicle light in an installation opening firstly provides for an initially floating arrangement of at least one device for at least partially attaching a vehicle light in a receptacle of at least one device for at least partially attaching a vehicle light to a vehicle on the vehicle light or on the vehicle.

In the following, reference is only made to a floating arrangement on the vehicle lamp, without this constituting a restriction to the effect that a floating arrangement on the vehicle, in particular on a body wall delimiting an installation opening for a vehicle lamp, cannot lead to the same desired result unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The device comprises an expansion sleeve and a clamping cone received in the expansion sleeve so that it can move along a longitudinal axis with expansion of the latter, and a fastening means which interacts with the clamping cone.

The device, with its expansion sleeve and with the clamping cone accommodated by it, is initially arranged floating on the vehicle light, at least along the longitudinal axis, optionally in addition in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis.

The fastening means is attached to a vehicle-side fastening point, for example by being passed through a fastening opening forming the fastening point, on a body wall delimiting an installation opening provided on the vehicle side for installation of the vehicle lamp Arranged limiting its free movement in the direction of the vehicle light. An example of this is the backward passage of a screw through a corresponding fastening opening, the threaded section of which extends towards the vehicle lamp and the head of which prevents the screw from being able to be pulled through the fastening opening towards the vehicle lamp.

The vehicle lamp is then arranged on the vehicle using a jig that aligns it precisely in position and position, for example in an installation opening on the vehicle.

The fastening means is then connected to the clamping cone and, by actuating the fastening means in the direction of the longitudinal axis and reducing the distance between the fastening point of the fastening means on the vehicle and the clamping cone, first the expansion sleeve, which is initially arranged floating along the longitudinal axis on the vehicle light, for contact with the vehicle , brought, for example, to the body wall delimiting the installation opening provided for receiving the vehicle lamp.

The expansion sleeve is also arranged floating on the vehicle light in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis, so there is an alignment along the displacement axis at the same time, at the end of which alignment the device is positioned in such a way that the longitudinal axis is along the shortest distance between the attachment point and the floating arrangement of the expansion sleeve extends to the vehicle lamp.

If the expansion sleeve finally rests on the vehicle, the clamping cone is now brought closer to the attachment point without further displacement of the expansion sleeve by further actuation of the fastening means to reduce the distance. Here, the expansion sleeve expands. Here, the relative position of the expansion sleeve on the vehicle lamp is determined by means of expansion of the expansion sleeve by the clamping cone moved relative to it.

With this definition, the formerly floating arrangement of the expansion sleeve on the vehicle light is repealed. Due to the widening of the expansion sleeve, it is arranged in a stationary and immovable manner on the vehicle light.

If the vehicle light is then fixed in the exact position and position on the vehicle, the gauge can be removed.

The procedure ends here.

It can be seen that the invention, by means of a self-adjusting tolerance compensation and fastening element with an adjusting element comprising an expanding element and an adjusting element arranged movably along a longitudinal axis with expansion of the expanding cone in this clamping cone, which is initially floatingly mounted in a receptacle at least along the longitudinal axis, can be realized.

The receptacle is provided on one of the components to be connected. If the tolerance compensation and fastening element is provided for fastening a vehicle light to a vehicle, the receptacle can be provided on the vehicle light or on the vehicle.

Due to the expansion and the clamping cone, the adjustment element is fixed in the exact position in the mount when it is screwed on.

Advantages over the prior art result from a simple design, independent adjustment, and usability in connection with standard fasteners, such as screws/nuts and studs/nuts.

Additional advantages that go beyond a complete solution of the task at hand while eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art are that no adjustment is necessary. In addition, standard fasteners can be used to brace the expansion cone and a clamping cone. Works with nuts and bolts and molded studs, is cost effective.

The device can have individual features or a combination of the features described above and/or below in connection with the vehicle light and/or the method, just like the method can have individual features or a combination of several features previously and/or below in connection with the device and/or the Have vehicle light features described and / or can implement. In addition, the vehicle lamp can have individual features or a combination of the features described above and/or below in connection with the device and/or the method.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung zur wenigstens teilweisen Befestigung einer Fahrzeugleuchte an einem Fahrzeug in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 2

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 in einem Längsschnitt A - A.

Fig. 3

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung zur wenigstens teilweisen Befestigung einer Fahrzeugleuchte an einem Fahrzeug in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 4

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 3 in einem Längsschnitt A - A.

Fig. 5

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung zur wenigstens teilweisen Befestigung einer Fahrzeugleuchte an einem Fahrzeug in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 6

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 5 in einem Längsschnitt A - A.

Fig. 7

ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Vorrichtung zur wenigstens teilweisen Befestigung einer Fahrzeugleuchte an einem Fahrzeug in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 8

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 7 in einem Längsschnitt A - A.

Fig. 9

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur wenigstens teilweisen Befestigung einer Fahrzeugleuchte an einem Fahrzeug.

The invention, including its advantages over the prior art that go beyond the complete solution of the task and/or the advantages mentioned above for the individual features, is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are shown in simplified form and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration. Identical reference symbols are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments only represent examples of how the invention can be designed and do not represent any final limitation. It shows in a schematic representation:

1

a first embodiment of a device for at least partially attaching a vehicle lamp to a vehicle in a plan view.

2

the device off 1 in a longitudinal section A - A.

3

a second embodiment of a device for at least partially attaching a vehicle lamp to a vehicle in a top view.

4

the device off 3 in a longitudinal section A - A.

figure 5

a third exemplary embodiment of a device for at least partially fastening a vehicle lamp to a vehicle in a top view.

6

the device off figure 5 in a longitudinal section A - A.

7

a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device for at least partially fastening a vehicle lamp to a vehicle in a plan view.

8

the device off 7 in a longitudinal section A - A.

9

a flow chart of a method for at least partially attaching a vehicle lamp to a vehicle.

• eine in einer Aufnahme 04 an einem der beiden durch Fahrzeugleuchte und Fahrzeug gebildeten Gegenparte anordbare und/oder angeordnete Spreizhülse 05,
• einen unter Aufweitung der Spreizhülse 05 entlang einer Längsachse 06 beweglich in der Spreizhülse 05 aufgenommen Spannkonus 07, und
• ein beispielsweise an einem Befestigungspunkt 09 am verbleibenden, anderen Gegenpart festlegbares und durch dessen Betätigung auf eine Position des Spannkonus 07 entlang der Längsachse 06 zu ihm, nämlich dem Befestigungspunkt, abstandsveränderlich wirkendes Befestigungsmittel 08.

one inside 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , figure 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 The device 01, shown in whole or in part, for at least partially fastening a vehicle light, preferably with its light housing 02 on a vehicle, in particular a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening provided for installing the vehicle light, comprises:

• an expansion sleeve 05 which can be arranged and/or is arranged in a receptacle 04 on one of the two counterparts formed by the vehicle lamp and the vehicle,
• a clamping cone 07 accommodated in the expansion sleeve 05 so that it can move along a longitudinal axis 06 while expanding the expansion sleeve 05, and
• a fastening means 08 that can be fixed, for example, at a fastening point 09 on the remaining, other counterpart and, when it is actuated, to a position of the clamping cone 07 along the longitudinal axis 06 relative to it, namely the fastening point, with a variable distance effect.

In the unexpanded state, the expansion sleeve 05 can be arranged and/or accommodated in the receptacle 04 in a floating manner, at least in the direction along the longitudinal axis 06. In the expanded state, it can be fixed and/or fixed in the receptacle 04 in its then assumed position along the longitudinal axis 06. By actuating the fastening means, which acts to reduce the distance between the clamping cone 07 and the distance between the clamping cone 07 and the fastening point 09 of the fastening means 09 on the remaining, other counterpart, the expansion sleeve 05 can be and/or brought into contact with the other counterpart and then the clamping cone 07 expands the expansion sleeve 05.

The device 01 accordingly comprises an expansion sleeve 05, a clamping cone 07 that is accommodated in the expansion sleeve 05 so that it can move along a longitudinal axis 06 while expanding the expansion sleeve 05, and a fastening means 08 that acts on a position of the clamping cone 07 along the longitudinal axis 06 so that the distance to it can be varied.

In the unexpanded state, the expansion sleeve 05 is arranged floating at least along the longitudinal axis 06 on a counterpart, namely on the vehicle light - preferably its light housing 02 - or on the vehicle - preferably a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle light on the body of the vehicle.

By actuating the fastening means 08 to reduce the distance, the expansion sleeve 05 is first brought to rest along the longitudinal axis on the remaining, other counterpart to the one counterpart on which it is arranged in a floating manner, i.e. on the vehicle in the case of a floating arrangement on the vehicle lamp and on the vehicle lamp in the case of a floating arrangement Arrangement on the vehicle.

The expansion sleeve 05 is or is fixed immovably in the expanded state obtained by further actuation of the fastening means 08 to reduce the distance in its unexpanded state or previously floating arrangement.

At the same time, the device 01 ensures tolerance compensation and reliable attachment of a vehicle light to a vehicle.

It can be seen that the invention can be implemented by a device 01, which comprises an adjustment element 10, which is initially held in a floating manner and comprises the expansion sleeve 05 and the clamping cone 07, which can be activated by actuating an element that interacts with the clamping cone 07 by changing its distance from a fastening point 09 , fixed at the attachment point 09 attachment means 08 is fixed in a contact position with loss of its floating arrangement.

The expansion sleeve 05 and the clamping cone 07 fix the adjusting element 10 in the exact position in the receptacle 04 when it is screwed on. Advantage is simple design, its self-adjustment and that it works with various fasteners such as bolt/nut and stud/nut combination ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) or with integrated bolt/nut ( figure 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ).

When a vehicle light is installed in an installation opening, the device 01 fixes it to the body wall 03 in the flush position set during installation by means of a gauge in the installed state.

• einen sich entlang der Längsachse 06 erstreckenden, beispielsweise karosserieseitig angeordneten Bolzen 82 als ein erstes Befestigungselement 80 des Befestigungsmittels 08,
• eine in einer beispielsweise durch eine eine normal zu dem Bolzen 82 verlaufende Ebene aufspannenden Öffnung gebildeten Aufnahme 04 am Leuchtengehäuse 02 einer Fahrzeugleuchte in Richtung der Längsachse 06 schwimmend gelagerten ersten hohlzylinderförmigen Spreizhülse 05, deren Hohlzylinderachse mit der Längsachse des Bolzens 82 übereinstimmt, und deren innere Mantelfläche eine deren Innendurchmesser konusförmig verjüngende Partie aufweist, sowie
• einem zwischen der Spreizhülse 05 und dem Bolzen 82 angeordneten und in Richtung der Längsachse 06 schwimmend gegenüber dem Bolzen 82 gelagerten hohlzylinderförmigen Spannkonus 07, dessen Hohlzylinderachse ebenfalls mit der Längsachse 06 des Bolzens 82 übereinstimmt, und dessen äußere Mantelfläche eine dessen Außendurchmesser entgegen der verjüngenden Partie der Spreizhülse 05 konusförmig erweiternde Partie aufweist, sowie
• ein entlang der Längsachse 06 des Bolzens 82 gegenüber diesem festlegbares zweites Befestigungselement 81 des Befestigungsmittels 08, beispielsweise eine Gewindemutter 83, ein Federspannring, Kabelbinderverrastung, etc.

For example, the device includes 01

• a bolt 82 which extends along the longitudinal axis 06 and is arranged, for example, on the bodywork as a first fastening element 80 of the fastening means 08,
• a first hollow-cylindrical expansion sleeve 05, which is mounted floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06 in a receptacle 04 on the lamp housing 02 of a vehicle lamp and is formed, for example, by an opening spanning a plane running normal to the bolt 82, whose hollow cylinder axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the bolt 82, and whose inner lateral surface one whose inner diameter has a conically tapering section, and
• a hollow-cylindrical clamping cone 07 which is arranged between the expansion sleeve 05 and the bolt 82 and is mounted floating in relation to the bolt 82 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06, the hollow-cylindrical axis of which also coincides with the longitudinal axis 06 of the bolt 82, and the outer lateral surface of which has an outer diameter opposite to the tapering section of the Expansion sleeve 05 has a conically widening section, as well as
• a second fastening element 81 of fastening means 08 that can be fixed relative to bolt 82 along longitudinal axis 06, for example a threaded nut 83, a spring clamping ring, cable tie catch, etc.

The expansion sleeve 05 and the clamping cone 07 are initially arranged preferably in a floating manner on the lamp housing 02 and relative to one another. They are first braced against one another by means of one of the fastening elements of the fastening means 08 in a position in which they fix the lamp housing 02 in a position in the installation opening aligned by means of a jig during installation.

When installing a vehicle light in an installation opening, the fastening system makes it possible to fix it at a variable distance from a rear body wall 03, for example, in the installed state, depending on its flushness, which is adjusted during installation using a gauge, depending on the manufacturing tolerances.

An adjusting element 10, which is movably accommodated in a receptacle 04 and consists of a clamping cone 07 and an expanding sleeve 05, is pressed into one another when a component, in particular a vehicle light, is fastened by means of a fastening means 08 comprising a screw and/or nut, for example. As a result, the expansion sleeve 05 is widened and jammed in the receptacle 04 of the component in the aligned position of the component. As a result, the setting element 10 can no longer be displaced and the component is fixed in its position. Grooves 11 on the expansion sleeve 05 and teeth 12 on the mount 04 ensure a positive connection when the expansion sleeve 05 is widened and the clamping cone 07 and the expansion sleeve 05 are squeezed together guaranteed for installation. The setting element 10 is held in its pre-assembly position by latching lugs 14 .

In the unexpanded state, the expansion sleeve 05 is accommodated in the receptacle 04 in addition to its floating arrangement along the longitudinal axis 06 in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis 06, also floating on the vehicle lamp or on the vehicle.

The expansion sleeve 05 expands under the action of the clamping cone 07 when the fastening means 08 is actuated to reduce the distance in the direction of an expansion axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis 06 and normal to the displacement axis.

The expansion sleeve 05 then expands under the action of the clamping cone 07 when the fastening means 08 is actuated to reduce the distance in the direction of an expansion axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis 06 and normal to the displacement axis.

The fastening means 08 can comprise two fastening elements 80, 81 which interact with one another, for example a threaded bolt 82 and a threaded nut 83, a smooth bolt and a clamping washer self-locking against withdrawal from the smooth bolt, similar to a cable tie, a serrated bolt and a catch acting against withdrawal from the serrated bolt.

The fastening means preferably comprises a threaded bolt 82 and a threaded nut 83.

The clamping cone 07 can include one of the fastening elements 80, 81, for example a threaded bolt 82 or a threaded nut 83, or be encompassed by one of the fastening elements 80, 81.

7 and 8 show an embodiment in which the clamping cone 07 includes a threaded bolt 82. The clamping cone 07 can be used as in 8 shown in one piece with the threaded bolt 82.

The expansion sleeve 05 can have a corrugation formed, for example, by grooves 11 on the outside of the receptacle 04 on a counterpart, which ribbing inhibits the floating arrangement in the receptacle 04 when the expansion sleeve 05 expands and finally cancels it.

Between the expansion sleeve 05 and the clamping cone 07, a ribbing can be provided, for example also formed by grooves, which fixes the clamping cone 07 in the expansion sleeve 05 as soon as it expands the expansion sleeve 05, at least against a distance-enlarging retreat.

The clamping cone 07 is preferably arranged captively in the expansion sleeve 05. This can be done by a conical part of an inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 that interacts with the clamping cone 07, delimited by means of an inner latching section comprising a latching lug 14, for example, which inner latching section protrudes so far into a receiving opening surrounded by the conical part that a clamping cone accommodated therein 07 cannot pass the resting section under their own power.

The expansion sleeve 05 is preferably arranged captively in the receptacle 04 on a counterpart.

This can be implemented, for example, by the outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 preferably having a central lateral surface section in the form of a straight, general cylinder whose cylinder axis extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 06. Viewed in both directions along the longitudinal axis 06, the outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 has on both sides of the middle lateral surface section an outer locking section acting towards the middle lateral surface section, for example comprising a locking lug 13 in each case. In the outer latching sections, the distance between the outer lateral surface and the longitudinal axis 06 is greater in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis 06 than in the middle lateral surface section.

When the expansion sleeve 05 is in the unexpanded state, the two outer latching sections allow the expansion sleeve 05 to be arranged in a captive manner, floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06, in a cross-sectional dimension that corresponds to the cross-sectional dimensions of the central lateral surface segment normal to the longitudinal axis, for example through an opening in a vehicle light or in a similar manner corresponding opening in a body wall delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle light.

In summary, the device 01 accordingly comprises, for example, a bolt, for example a threaded bolt 82, extending along a longitudinal axis 06, and a fastening element 81, for example a nut 83, which interacts with the bolt.

Conceivable combinations of bolts and fastening elements interacting with this are, for example, threaded bolts and threaded nuts, smooth bolts and clamping disks self-locking against withdrawal from the smooth bolt, serrated bolt and notch acting against withdrawal from the serrated bolt, similar to a cable tie.

The device 01 also includes a clamping cone 07 that is movably arranged along the longitudinal axis 06 of the bolt.

In addition, the device 01 comprises, for example, a hollow-cylindrical expansion sleeve 05 with a first end of the expansion sleeve 05, referred to for short as the closed end, from a base, for example with a central opening for the passage of the bolt that may be provided, which is limited in the shape of a section of a cone, of its inner lateral surface. The section-shaped part of the inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 correlates with the outer shape of the clamping cone 07 in such a way that it can be accommodated free of a deformation of the expansion sleeve 05 at least in the widest section of the section-shaped part.

Opposite the closed or first end, the expansion sleeve 05 has a second end, referred to as the open end for short. Both the hollow-cylindrical axis of the hollow-cylindrical expansion sleeve 05 and the solder of the part in the shape of a cone section extend from the first end to the opposite, second end of the expansion sleeve 05 along the longitudinal axis 06 of the bolt. The longitudinal axis 06 is normal to a surface spanned by an edge of the central opening in the floor. The part of the inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 in the shape of a cone section comprises at least one section whose inner dimension, referred to as the inner diameter for short, tapers conically in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis 06 from the open end of the expansion sleeve 05 to the closed end.

Towards the open end, the section-shaped part is preferably delimited by an inner latching section, in which the distance between the inner lateral surface and the longitudinal axis 06 is smaller in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis 06 than on the side in the section-shaped section facing the open end.

The inner latching section allows the clamping cone 07 to be mounted in the expansion sleeve 05 so that it cannot be lost and is floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06.

The outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 preferably has a central lateral surface section in the form of a straight, general cylinder whose cylinder axis extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 06. Viewed in both directions along the longitudinal axis 06, the outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve 05 has on both sides of the middle lateral surface section an outer latching section acting towards the middle lateral surface section. In the outer latching sections, the distance between the outer lateral surface and the longitudinal axis 06 is greater in at least one direction normal to the longitudinal axis 06 than in the middle lateral surface section.

The two outer latching sections permit a captive arrangement of the expansion sleeve 05, floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06 in the unexpanded state of the expansion sleeve 05, in a cross-sectional dimension that corresponds to the cross-sectional dimensions of the central lateral surface section normal to the longitudinal axis 06, for example through an opening in a vehicle light or in a corresponding opening in a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle lamp.

The clamping cone 07 can have a central opening for the passage of a fastening element 80 embodied, for example, as a bolt, preferably as a threaded bolt 82 .

Alternatively, the clamping cone 07 can be connected to the bolt and initially arranged in a floating manner along the longitudinal axis of the bolt ( 7 , 8 ). In this case, the device forms a unit that is particularly easy to handle, since the clamping cone 07 is arranged captively together with the bolt in the expansion sleeve 05 and the expansion sleeve 05 with the clamping cone 07 it captively accommodates on the lamp or vehicle side initially until it is precisely aligned of the vehicle light relative to the vehicle is captively held floating in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06.

It is evident that the invention can be implemented in connection with a vehicle lamp, which comprises a device 01 as described above for its at least partial attachment to a vehicle.

The invention therefore also encompasses a vehicle light with at least one device 01 arranged on it for its at least partial attachment to a vehicle, for example to a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening.

The vehicle light has a light interior that is completely or partially enclosed by a light housing 02 and a lens and at least one light source that is at least partially housed therein and includes at least one light source for at least one light function.

The vehicle light particularly preferably includes the receptacle 04 for the expansion sleeve 05.

The receptacle 04 is advantageously arranged on the lamp housing 02 .

The device 01 of the vehicle light comprises an expansion sleeve 05, a clamping cone 07 accommodated in the expansion sleeve 05 so that it can move along a longitudinal axis 06 while expanding the latter, and a fastening means 08 that interacts with the clamping cone 07.

In the unexpanded state, the expansion sleeve 05 is preferably arranged floating at least along the longitudinal axis 06 on the vehicle lamp, preferably its lamp housing 02.

The clamping cone 07 is movably accommodated in the expansion sleeve 05 along the longitudinal axis 06 while expanding the expansion sleeve 05 and initially floats together with this along the longitudinal axis 06 on the vehicle lamp—primarily its lamp housing 02.

Depending on the direction of actuation, the interaction of the fastening means 08 and the clamping cone 07 increases or decreases the distance between a fastening point 09, to which the fastening means 08 is preferably fixed on the vehicle side, and the clamping cone 07. As the distance between the fastening point 09 of the Fastening means 08 and clamping cone 07, the expansion sleeve 05 comes into contact with the vehicle - primarily a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening for the vehicle light. Finally, only the clamping cone 07 can be moved along the longitudinal axis 06 by further actuating the fastening means 08 to reduce the distance while expanding the expansion sleeve 05. so that finally the fastening means 08 fixes the device 01 on the vehicle while being immovably fixed to the vehicle light by expanding the expansion sleeve 05 in a once assumed position along the longitudinal axis 06.

In other words, the interaction of the fastening means 08 and the clamping cone 07 provides that an actuation of the fastening means 08 has a variable distance to the position of the clamping cone 07 along the longitudinal axis 06 compared to the fastening means 08 or its fastening point 09 on the counterpart of the vehicle lamp.

According to the invention, the expansion sleeve 05 is also arranged floating on the vehicle light in addition to its floating arrangement in the unexpanded state along the longitudinal axis 06 in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis 06 . The expansion sleeve 05 expands under the action of the clamping cone 07 when the fastening means 08 is actuated to reduce the distance in the direction of an expansion axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis 06 and normal to the displacement axis.

It is also evident that the invention can be implemented using a device 01 described above and/or a vehicle light also described above by a method for at least partially attaching a vehicle light to a vehicle, primarily in an installation opening, with the vehicle light and vehicle each having a form counterparts to each other.

In a first method step I, the method provides that an above-described device 01 for at least partially fastening a vehicle light to a vehicle with its expansion sleeve 05 and with the clamping cone 07 accommodated by this, initially at least along the longitudinal axis 06, and then also in the direction of a normal to the longitudinal axis 06 running displacement axis, is arranged floating on a counterpart, corresponding to the vehicle lamp or on the vehicle.

In a second method step II following the first method step I, the method provides that the fastening means 08 is attached to the vehicle forming the other counterpart to the vehicle lamp or to the vehicle lamp forming the other counterpart to the vehicle while limiting its free mobility at least in the direction of one counterpart is arranged towards. The location where the fastening means 08 is fixed while limiting its free mobility at least in the direction of one counterpart is referred to as the fastening point 09 from now on.

In a third step III following the second step II, the method provides that the vehicle light, for example, using a this jig, which is aligned for example in an installation opening on the vehicle, is arranged in the exact location and position opposite the vehicle.

In a fourth method step IV following the third method step III, the method provides that the fastening means 08 is connected to the clamping cone 07 and thereby reduces the distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis to the distance between the fastening point 09 of the fastening means 08 on the vehicle and the clamping cone 07 actuation of the fastener 08 first causes the expansion sleeve 05, which is initially arranged floating along the longitudinal axis 06 on one counterpart, for example on the vehicle light, to rest against the other counterpart, for example on the vehicle, for example on its body wall 03 delimiting the installation opening provided for accommodating the vehicle light is, then by further distance-reducing actuation of the fastening means 08, the clamping cone 07 now expands the expansion sleeve 05 without further displacement of the expansion sleeve 05, whereby the formerly floating recorded on a counterpart Sprei z sleeve 05 is fixed on one counterpart in its relative position now resting on the other counterpart.

The method therefore initially provides for an initially floating arrangement of at least one device 01 for at least partially fastening a vehicle lamp in a receptacle on a vehicle on the vehicle lamp or on the vehicle.

In the following, reference is only made to a floating arrangement on the vehicle light, without this constituting a restriction to the effect that a floating arrangement on the vehicle, in particular on a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening for a vehicle light, cannot lead to the same desired result. unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The device 01 comprises an expansion sleeve 05 and a clamping cone 07 accommodated in the expansion sleeve 05 so that it can move along a longitudinal axis 06 while expanding the latter, and a fastening means 08 that interacts with the clamping cone 07.

The device 01, with its expansion sleeve 05 and with the clamping cone 07 received by it, is arranged floating on the vehicle lamp in the unexpanded state, initially at least along the longitudinal axis 06 and then also in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis 06.

Fastening element 08 is arranged at a fastening point 09 on the vehicle side, for example by passing it through a fastening opening forming fastening point 09, on a body wall 03 delimiting an installation opening provided on the vehicle side for installing the vehicle light, at least while limiting its free mobility in the direction of the vehicle light. An example of this is the backward passage of a screw through a corresponding fastening opening, the threaded section of which extends towards the vehicle lamp and the head of which prevents the screw from being able to be pulled through the fastening opening towards the vehicle lamp.

The vehicle lamp is then arranged on the vehicle using a jig that aligns it precisely in position and position, for example in an installation opening on the vehicle.

The fastening means 08 is then brought into connection with the clamping cone and by actuating the fastening means 08 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 06, reducing the distance between the fastening point 09 of the fastening means 08 on the vehicle and the clamping cone 07, first floating along the longitudinal axis on the vehicle light arranged expansion sleeve 05 to rest on the vehicle, for example brought to its body wall 03 delimiting the installation opening provided for receiving the vehicle light.

The expansion sleeve 05 is also arranged in a floating manner on the vehicle light in the direction of a displacement axis running normal to the longitudinal axis 06, so at the same time there is an alignment along the displacement axis, at the end of which alignment the device 01 is positioned in such a way that the longitudinal axis 06 is along the shortest Distance between attachment point 09 and the floating arrangement of the expansion sleeve 05 extends to the vehicle light.

If the expansion sleeve 05 is finally in contact with the vehicle, the clamping cone 07 is now brought closer to the attachment point 09 without further displacement of the expansion sleeve 05 by further actuation of the fastening means 08 to reduce the distance. Here, the expansion sleeve 05 expands. Here, the relative position of the expansion sleeve 05 on the vehicle light is determined by expanding the expansion sleeve 05 by the clamping cone 07 that is moved relative to it.

With this determination, the previously floating arrangement of the expansion sleeve 05 on the vehicle light is repealed. Due to the widening of the expansion sleeve 05, it is arranged in a stationary and immovable manner on the vehicle light.

If the vehicle light is then fixed in the exact position and position on the vehicle, the gauge can be removed.

The procedure ends here.

It can be seen that the invention is achieved by means of a self-adjusting tolerance compensation and fastening element with an adjustment element 10 comprising an expanding element and an adjusting element 10 which is arranged movably along a longitudinal axis with expansion of the expanding cone 05 in this clamping cone 07 and which is located in a receptacle 04 at least along the longitudinal axis 06 is initially floating, can be realized.

The receptacle 04 is provided on one of the components to be connected. If the tolerance compensation and fastening element is provided for fastening a vehicle light to a vehicle, the receptacle can be provided on the vehicle light or on the vehicle.

Due to the expanding 05 and the clamping cone 07, the adjustment element 10 is fixed in the exact position in the receptacle when it is screwed on.

Advantages over the prior art result from a simple design, independent adjustment, and usability in connection with standard fasteners, such as screws/nuts and studs/nuts.

Additional advantages that go beyond a complete solution of the task while eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art are that no adjustment is necessary. In addition, standard fasteners can be used to brace the expansion cone and a clamping cone. Works with screws and nuts 83 and molded threaded bolts 82, is inexpensive.

The invention can be used commercially in particular in the field of manufacturing vehicle lights, in particular motor vehicle lights.

The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications or variations can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Reference List

01

contraption

02

lamp housing

03

body wall

04

Recording

05

expansion sleeve

06

longitudinal axis

07

clamping cone

08

fasteners

09

attachment point

10

adjustment element

11

grooves

12

gearing

13

detents

14

detents

Claims (11)

1. A device (01) for the at least partial fastening of a vehicle lamp to a vehicle,

   wherein vehicle lamp and vehicle each form a counterpart of the other, the device comprising:

   - an expansion sleeve (05), which is arrangeable in a reception (04) at a counterpart,

   - a clamping cone (07), which is received by expansion of the expansion sleeve (05) so as to be movable along a longitudinal axis (06) in the expansion sleeve (05), and

   - a fastening means (08), which is fixable to the other counterpart, and which, by being actuated, acts upon a position of the clamping cone (07) along the longitudinal axis (06) in a distance-variable manner,

   wherein the expansion sleeve (05) in its unexpanded state is received in the reception (04) so as to float at least in the direction along the longitudinal axis (06), and wherein the expansion sleeve (05) in its expanded state is fixed in the reception (04) in its then assumed position along the longitudinal axis (06) and wherein the expansion sleeve (05) is first brought into abutment on the counterpart by the fastening means (08) being actuated to act upon the position of the clamping cone (07) in a distance-reducing manner, and the clamping cone (07) subsequently expands the expansion sleeve (05), characterised in that the expansion sleeve (05) in its unexpanded state is received in the reception (04) so as to additionally float in the direction of a displacement axis extending orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (06), and, under action of the clamping cone (07) by the fastening means (08) being actuated in a distance-reducing manner, the expansion sleeve (05) expands in the direction of an expansion axis standing both orthogonal on the longitudinal axis (06) and orthogonal on the displacement axis.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means (08) comprises two fastening elements (80, 81, 82, 83) interacting with each other.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the fastening means (08) comprises a threaded bolt (82) and a threaded nut (83).
4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the clamping cone (07) comprises one of the fastening elements (80, 81, 82, 83) or is comprised by one of the fastening elements (80, 81, 82, 83).
5. The device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the expansion sleeve (05) has a ribbing (11) on the outside.
6. The device according to one of the previous claims, wherein a ribbing is provided between expansion sleeve (05) and clamping cone (07), which ribbing fixes the clamping cone (07) in the expansion sleeve (05), at least against receding, as soon as the clamping cone (07) expands the expansion sleeve (05).
7. The device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the device comprises a conical section of an inner lateral surface of the expansion sleeve interacting with the clamping cone, which conical section is delimited by means of an inner latching section, which inner latching section projects so far into a receiving opening surrounded by the conical section that a clamping cone received herein cannot pass the latching section by its own power.
8. The device according to one of the previous claims, wherein an outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve (05) has a middle lateral surface section in the form of a straight, general cylinder, the axis of which cylinder extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (06), wherein the outer lateral surface of the expansion sleeve (05) has an outer latching section on both sides of the middle lateral surface section as seen in both directions along the longitudinal axis (06), each outer latching section acting toward the middle lateral surface section and each comprising a latching lug (13), and wherein the distance of the outer lateral surface to the longitudinal axis (06) is greater in at least one direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (06) in the outer latching sections than in the middle lateral surface section.
9. A vehicle lamp with a lamp interior, which is completely or partially enclosed by a lamp housing (02) and a lens, and with at least one lighting means at least partly accommodated therein, the lighting means comprising at least one light source for at least one light function, the vehicle lamp comprising at least one device (01) according to one of the previous claims for the at least partial fastening of the vehicle lamp to a vehicle.
10. The vehicle lamp according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle lamp comprises the reception (04).
11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 10, wherein the reception (04) is arranged at the lamp housing (02).

Images